Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. The disciples of the Lord Jesus

a. They saw the example of the Lord Jesus in prayer

b. They received His teachings on prayer

c. Yet they struggled to develop their prayer life significantly

2. My personal sense of identification with the disciples of old

a. I see the lack in my own prayer life

b. But I am moved and challenged to deepen my prayer life

3. A special word of encouragement from the Lord Jesus

“Men always ought to pray and not lose heart”   Luke 18:1

a. This was His word to His disciples then

b. This is also His word to us who follow Him today

A DESCRIPTION OF THE WORLD IN THE LAST DAYS

1. A question was raised concerning the coming of the Kingdom of God   (Luke 17:20)

2. A word to the disciples about what the world would be like in the last days   (Luke 17:26-30)

a. As it was in the days of Noah   (Luke 17:26-27)

i. They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage

ii. Until the flood came and destroyed them all

iii. So it will be also in the days of the Son of Man

b. As it was in the days of Lot   (Luke 17:28-30)

i. They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built

ii. Until it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all

iii. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed

c. The Lord’s warning to them about the last days

i. The world will be caught up with the affairs of men

ii. There will be little thought of God or His judgment

iii. God’s judgment will catch many unawares

iv. The day of God’s judgment will be fearsome and terrifying

v. There will be no turning back then

3. Some questions for us to ponder

a. In a world like this, where does prayer fit in?

b. Is there any point in praying at all?

4. The Lord’s answer

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”   Luke 18:1

a. Men always ought to pray and not lose heart

b. He spoke a parable to explain this

THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST JUDGE

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”   Luke 18:1-8

The parable Luke 18:2-5

1. A judge who does not fear God or regard men

2. A widow came to him asking for justice for her from her adversary

3. The judge would not for a while

4. But afterward he decided that he would avenge her

a. “Because this widow troubles me I will avenge her”

b. “Lest by her continual coming she weary me”

The meaning of the parable Luke 18:6-7

1. What God is like

a. The world thinks that God is like the unjust judge

b. But God is the exact opposite

i. He is a just Judge

ii. He hears the prayers of His own elect

iii. He will avenge them speedily

2. We should pray like the widow

a. Consistently and persistently

b. Without losing heart

A probing question raised Luke 18:8

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”   Luke 18:8b

1. The Son of Man is looking for faith

2. Will the Son of Man find such faith on the earth?

THE EXHORTATION: MEN ALWAYS OUGHT TO PRAY AND NOT LOSE HEART

1. We must pray

a. Prayer is not an option

b. Prayer is a necessity

c. We must pray!

2. We must pray always

a. Consistently and persistently

b. Like the widow in the story

3. We must not lose heart

a. Even if the world does not pray

b. Even if true faith is rarely found

c. Even if it may seem like our prayers are unanswered for a while

d. We must not lose heart or give in!

A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO KEEP PRAYING

1. To develop our personal prayer life

2. To keep developing it even if it is challenging at time

3. To not lose heart